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    Max Verstappen forced to retire in lap 39 of the Australian Grand Prix after identifying a problem with his fuel

    MAX VERSTAPPEN was forced to PULL OUT of the Australian Grand Prix.The Red Bull star was going strong in second place when a problem with his fuel caused him to stop during lap 39.
    Max Verstappen slammed his retirement as “unacceptable”Credit: AP
    Verstappen was forced to pull out for the second time this seasonCredit: AP
    The driver identified a problem with his fuel before quittingCredit: Reuters
    There appeared to be an issue with his fuel or hydraulic fluid as Verstappen was forced to retire for the second race this season.
    The Dutchman said immediately after stopping: “I smell some weird fluid. Everything is s******* itself.”
    Fluid was reportedly leaking and Verstappen put safety first by pulling over to the side of the track to end his race.
    Team-mate Sergio Perez had no such problem and when he enquired about Verstappen’s car his team told him to focus on his own car.
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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}WIZARD OF OZ .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Leclerc wins in Australian GP as Verstappen retirement hands Russell third
    After the race Verstappen said: ” We are already miles behind so I don’t even want to think about the championship at the moment – it’s more important to finish races.
    “Today in general it was a bad day, not really having the pace and having to manage my tyres.
    “It looked like quite an easy P2 and I knew I could not reach Charles (Leclerc) so there was no point trying to put pressure on him.
    “Not even being able to finish the race is frustrating and unacceptable.
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    “I knew there was a problem, there was always going to be a question mark of finishing the race. These kinds of things if you want to win the championship cannot happen.
    “I don’t know (what the issue was). They have. to get the car back to the factory to investigate.”
    Red Bull chief Christian Horner said: “It’s totally understandable his frustration – that was a really disappointing result not to finish the race.
    “We don’t know what the issue was yet, I don’t think it’s actually engine related, I think it might be a fuel issue but we need to get the car back to look at exactly what’s happened.
    “Desperately frustrating, as Max said we didn’t have the pace to race, Leclerc was in a league of his own but frustrating not to be bagging those points.”
    Fortunately for Red Bull, they avoided a repeat of the Bahrain grand prix when Verstappen’s withdrawal was followed by Perez being forced to retire too.
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    Instead, the Mexican finished the race untroubled taking second.
    But he was unable to challenge winner Leclerc who claimed a comfortable victory for Ferrari – his second in three races this season. More

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    F1 Australian Grand Prix LIVE RESULTS: Updates from Melbourne as Leclerc starts on pole ahead of Verstappen & Hamilton

    THE Australian Grand Prix has returned with suspense and drama as fans prepare for the finale in Melbourne.Formula One icon Lewis Hamilton has endured a less than ideal start to the season but he managed to finish fifth on the grid in qualifying.
    Whilst Charles Leclerc secured pole position with arch rival Max Verstappen landing second spot.

    TV/Live stream: Sky Sports F1
    Grand Prix start time: 6am BST – April 10

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    Follow ALL the action from Melbourne with our live blog below…
    Lew’s mask moan
    Lewis Hamilton was ‘uncomfortable’ at FIA officials not wearing masks at the drivers’ briefing ahead of the Australian GP.
    Race chiefs used the meeting to underline a crackdown on jewellery and insist on fireproof underwear during tomorrow’s race.
    But Hamilton doubted whether such talks were necessary.
    And although face coverings aren’t compulsory in enclosed areas in Australia, the Brit pointed out: “No one in the drivers’ briefing were wearing masks.
    “Some of the drivers were but most of the FIA were not, which for me was uncomfortable.”
    The seven-time world champ added: “It was the longest drivers’ briefing of my life.
    “I don’t understand the small things they are picking up on, like the underwear – are we really talking about that kind of thing?”
    Qualification results

    P1 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
    P2 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
    P3 Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
    P4 Norris (McLaren)
    P5 Hamilton (Mercedes)
    P6 Russell (Mercedes)
    P7 Ricciardo (McLaren)
    P8 Ocon (Alpine)
    P9 Sainz (Ferrari)
    P10 Alonso (Alpine)

    Credit: Alamy
    Coulthard on Hamilton’s future
    “What’s happened with Lewis and Mercedes might be slightly de-motivating,” he said.
    “I expect him to do what he has done for many years – get the feedback on his car and be the voice of it. The workload is the same whether you are winning or losing.
    “What is different is the frustration because you don’t have a winning car. But I was massively impressed that he committed himself into signing a two-year contract – despite the uncertainty surrounding the new regulations.
    “That told me he had a hunger and a focus. It only takes a bad run and a bit of frustration for a driver’s motivation to tail off.
    “Now, he had a similar situation at McLaren when he was younger. But that was then.
    “This is now when he’s older, more experienced and has seven world championships under his belt. I don’t think older sportsmen and women lose their talent.
    “What I think they lose is the need. There is a certain point in your life where you need it. Lewis has had a brilliant period of success. The question is for him: ‘Am I prepared to go through the motions this season, or am I actually going to consider my future?’
    “This will show to any of the doubters his absolute underlying commitment.”
    Credit: Reuters
    How to watch Australian GP

    The F1 Australian Grand Prix will get underway from 6am UK time on Sunday, April 10.
    The race will be held at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Australia.
    There will be a whopping 80,000 fans in attendance for the race.
    All the coverage from the F1 Australian Grand Prix will be shown live on Sky Sports F1.
    You can live stream the action from the Sky Go or NOW TV apps, both of which are available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.

    Alonso pole bid woe
    Fernando Alonso reckons he could have taken polefor Alpine today were it not for a hydraulic failure.
    Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took top spot ahead of tomorrow’s Australian GP ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
    Alonso sparked a red flag when he ran wide of the apex as he neared the corner, took the kerb and rolled into gravel and then the wall.
    The comeback star: “We lost the hydraulics on the car, so we lost the gear change and power steering and everything.
    “I think we could fight for pole position today.
    “Been waiting many years for that possibility and it is amazing we have been so unlucky in these first three races.
    “I was doing one of the best weekends in years and it is very frustrating now.”
    Mercedes chief admits problems could last until final race
    Toto Wolff says Mercedes’ pace problems could last until the final race of the season.
    The team boss also admitted their cars’ problems are wide-ranging.
    Wolff said: “Our bouncing is worse in the sense that we are carrying it into the corners, into the high speeds so we see where we are losing the performance.
    “On sector one, we are very competitive when you look at the overlay, and sector two we are competitive. Sector three, through Nine and 10 we are losing all our margins, almost a second through a couple of corners.
    “Is curing the bouncing the miraculous unlocking of a second? No, for sure not. But there are many other little improvements we can make on weight.
    “I’m optimistic we are going to get there eventually. Whether it is is in two races or five or by the end of the season, I don’t know.”
    Hamilton ‘doesn’t enjoy’ driving his new Mercedes
    Lewis Hamilton admits driving his struggling new Mercedes has taken away his driving enjoyment.
    The seven-time world champ qualified fifth for the Australian GP, helped by problems for Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Alpine’s Fernando Alonso.
    But he was a second past Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
    The Brit revealed his Mercedes fast-bouncing at high speeds – ‘porpoising’ – was ‘really the worst characteristic I have experienced in a car and we can’t get rid of it at the moment’.
    Hamilton added: “We’re a second off, a pretty huge gap.
    “I enjoy the role of working with the team. I don’t enjoy driving the car but I enjoy the collaboration of working with the guys, knowing that there is a steep hill to climb and just remaining hopeful.”
    Qualification results
    P1 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
    P2 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
    P3 Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
    P4 Norris (McLaren)
    P5 Hamilton (Mercedes)
    P6 Russell (Mercedes)
    P7 Ricciardo (McLaren)
    P8 Ocon (Alpine)
    P9 Sainz (Ferrari)
    P10 Alonso (Alpine)
    Eliminated in Q2: Gasly, Bottas, Tsunoda, Zhou, Schumacher
    Eliminated in Q1: Albon, Magnussen, Vettel, Latifi, Stroll
    Merc my words
    Somewhat of a comeback for Mercedes in Australia.
    Lewis Hamilton will be 5th on the grid tomorrow after qualifying.
    The seven-time champion will be in with a real shot if the car gives him what he needs.
    George Russell qualified 6th.

    One step closer for Verstappen
    Max Verstappen gives his view after finishing second in qualifying.
    He will start behind LeClerc on the grid tomorrow in Melbourne.
    The 24-year-old said: “For me this weekend so far has been all over the place, I’m happy to be second, but as a team we want more.”
    Credit: F1
    LeClerc happy on top
    Charles LeClerc spoke after making pole for tomorrow’s race.
    The Ferrari ace said: “The free practice sessions were quite messy for me, but in Q3 I managed to put everything together, so it feels great.
    “I’m very happy to be on pole tomorrow!”
    Credit: F1
    Dennis continued
    Dennis said: “In 2020, I basically lived at the Red Bull factory in Milton Keynes. I was there all the time.
    “I didn’t really have too much racing going on myself and they needed a driver who had a bit of F1 experience.
    “This year has been pretty hectic already. I think with a new car it just puts more demand on the workload.
    “So there’s been quite a lot of simulator work and that will continue on throughout the year.”
    Exclusive by Ben Hunt
    Max Verstappen’s bid to defend his F1 crown is being boosted by British racer Jake Dennis.
    The 26-year-old from Nuneaton is Red Bull’s development driver and he also races in Formula E for the Andretti team.
    Dennis is a versatile driver and spends HOURS in Red Bull’s simulator to help fine-tune Verstappen’s race car.
    While he is also out to win the Formula E title himself this season after finishing third in the championship last year in his rookie season.
    Dennis, who will race in the Rome ePrix today, says he enjoys balancing his own racing commitments with working for Red Bull.
    Leclerc takes pole
    Sensational lap from the Ferrari man to start P1.
    Verstappen is second in his Red Bull, Perez in P3.
    And what about this! Lando Norris in fourth. A great recovery from him.
    Hamilton qualifies in fifth, Russell in sixth.
    Phew, all poised for an exciting battle tomorrow.

    Russell, from nowhere, pops up in P4
    Great lap from the Mercedes man while Hamilton is struggling.
    Q3 is go again
    Six minutes to go and it is Leclerc, Perez, Verstappen.
    Things just are not clicking for Alonso
    He has been at Alpine for a while now and spoke about ‘El Plan’ when he rejoined F1.
    It has been more pain than a plan. He trudges back to the garage as the session is delayed again.
    Almost seven minutes left on the clock.

    Red flag – Crash for Alonso
    The two-time world champion has lost control and slams into the barriers. He is out of the car and out of this qualifying.

    Q3 is go
    Shoot-out for the top 10 is underway in Oz. Verstappen v Leclerc, or can someone else spring a surprise?
    Blinded by the sun

    Bottas’s run comes to an end
    The first time since 2016 the Finn has not reached Q3.

    Out in Q2
    Gasly, Bottas, Tsunoda, Zhou and Schumacher are eliminated. Both McLarens are in to Q3. That’s a good upturn for the Woking team.
    Tsunoda runs into the gravel…
    And Lewis Hamilton is having difficulty staying on track.
    Meanwhile, Leclerc has asked for a new helmet with a dark visor, as the low sun is making it difficult to see. He says it is dangerous.
    Another fine for Vettel.
    Yesterday it was €5,000 for riding a scooter on the track after his car broke down.
    Today it is €600 for breaking the speed limit in the pit lane. He was clocked at 85.1km/h, a total of 5.1km/h over the regulation speed.
    Hamilton unhappy with Verstappen
    The Dutchman was unaware Hamilton was approaching on a flying lap and did not move out of the way.
    Hamilton radios his team to complain while Verstappen also radios his team to ask if Hamilton was on a flyer.
    It seems he was unaware he was, so bit of a mistake from Red Bull’s pitwall not to warn their driver to move out of the way.
    Load more entries… More

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    ‘Lewis loves doing this’ – Mercedes boss Toto Wolff quashes Hamilton quit talk and insists Brit will go on for YEARS

    LEWIS HAMILTON will stay in Formula One for years to come, says his Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.Many wondered if the 37-year-old would see out his two-year deal, worth around £80million, after controversially missing out on a record eighth world crown last season.
    Hamilton appears set to continue racing following rumours he was set to quick the sportCredit: Getty
    But Wolff rubbished suggestions the 37-year-old Brit could throw in the towel and says he has plenty more left in the tank.
    Wolff said: “You can only walk away if you don’t like what you do any more but Lewis loves doing this.
    “Lewis is in fantastic shape, his lifestyle is hugely disciplined and he has many, many years to go.
    “And isn’t it a great challenge for him? He was at McLaren, then went to Mercedes when it wasn’t great and has won six titles. The team has got it wrong now, but he can be a part of the rise again.”
    .css-16e4f55{margin:16px 0;}.css-1h37p88{background-color:rgba(236,245,247,1);margin:16px 0;}.css-1tapza8{padding:20px 15px;}.css-1bk4jdt{padding:20px 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Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-1x7hydu::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -0.5px);}.css-1x7hydu::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}Read More on F1.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-h98a3b{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(236,245,247,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-xpuujo{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-tqcu81{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-bq4915{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,97,108,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}AUSTRALIAN GP .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Updates from Melbourne as Leclerc on pole, Verstappen second, Hamilton FIFTH
    Mercedes have dominated the sport since 2014 enabling Hamilton to become the grid’s most decorated star.
    But a new rulebook this season has seen the Silver Arrows struggle to keep pace with Red Bull and Ferrari.
    Wolff says he is committed to helping the team make it a three-way title fight, adding: “I don’t sleep, and that is not because of jet lag.
    “I am not sleeping because I am beating myself up on how to get on top of these things. It is a miserable state of mind.
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    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
    “But you cannot be miserable. I have to look for solutions and I am trying to improve myself in order to extract more performance — and it’s the same for Lewis.
    “I see an upbeat Lewis when we start the day and then a downbeat Lewis when the session has gone worse than expected. I have had to stop thinking in terms of sessions and weekends, but about years.
    “There will be years like this one where we have really bad weekends, but these weekends are necessary to learn.
    “Are we going to fight for the world championships? My expectation from a pure mathematical stance is no, we are too slow.
    “This needs to be a blip and not a long-term downward spiral. It will be a blip, and that is why we need to get it right now – not on the stopwatch, but mentally.” More

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    F1 Australian Grand Prix qualifying LIVE RESULTS: Leclerc takes pole after dramatic qualifying involving TWO red flags

    THE Australian Grand Prix has returned with suspense and drama as fans prepare for the finale in Melbourne TOMORROW.Formula One icon Lewis Hamilton has endured a less than ideal start to the season but he managed to finish fifth on the grid in qualifying.
    Whilst Charles Leclerc secured pole position with arch rival Max Verstappen landing second spot.

    TV/Live stream: Sky Sports F1
    Grand Prix start time: 6am BST – April 10

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    Follow ALL the action from Melbourne with our live blog below…
    Hamilton ‘doesn’t enjoy’ driving his new Mercedes
    Lewis Hamilton admits driving his struggling new Mercedes has taken away his driving enjoyment.
    The seven-time world champ qualified fifth for the Australian GP, helped by problems for Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Alpine’s Fernando Alonso.
    But he was a second past Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
    The Brit revealed his Mercedes fast-bouncing at high speeds – ‘porpoising’ – was ‘really the worst characteristic I have experienced in a car and we can’t get rid of it at the moment’.
    Hamilton added: “We’re a second off, a pretty huge gap.
    “I enjoy the role of working with the team. I don’t enjoy driving the car but I enjoy the collaboration of working with the guys, knowing that there is a steep hill to climb and just remaining hopeful.”
    Qualification results
    P1 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
    P2 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
    P3 Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
    P4 Norris (McLaren)
    P5 Hamilton (Mercedes)
    P6 Russell (Mercedes)
    P7 Ricciardo (McLaren)
    P8 Ocon (Alpine)
    P9 Sainz (Ferrari)
    P10 Alonso (Alpine)
    Eliminated in Q2: Gasly, Bottas, Tsunoda, Zhou, Schumacher
    Eliminated in Q1: Albon, Magnussen, Vettel, Latifi, Stroll
    Merc my words
    Somewhat of a comeback for Mercedes in Australia.
    Lewis Hamilton will be 5th on the grid tomorrow after qualifying.
    The seven-time champion will be in with a real shot if the car gives him what he needs.
    George Russell qualified 6th.

    One step closer for Verstappen
    Max Verstappen gives his view after finishing second in qualifying.
    He will start behind LeClerc on the grid tomorrow in Melbourne.
    The 24-year-old said: “For me this weekend so far has been all over the place, I’m happy to be second, but as a team we want more.”
    Credit: F1
    LeClerc happy on top
    Charles LeClerc spoke after making pole for tomorrow’s race.
    The Ferrari ace said: “The free practice sessions were quite messy for me, but in Q3 I managed to put everything together, so it feels great.
    “I’m very happy to be on pole tomorrow!”
    Credit: F1
    Dennis continued
    Dennis said: “In 2020, I basically lived at the Red Bull factory in Milton Keynes. I was there all the time.
    “I didn’t really have too much racing going on myself and they needed a driver who had a bit of F1 experience.
    “This year has been pretty hectic already. I think with a new car it just puts more demand on the workload.
    “So there’s been quite a lot of simulator work and that will continue on throughout the year.”
    Exclusive by Ben Hunt
    Max Verstappen’s bid to defend his F1 crown is being boosted by British racer Jake Dennis.
    The 26-year-old from Nuneaton is Red Bull’s development driver and he also races in Formula E for the Andretti team.
    Dennis is a versatile driver and spends HOURS in Red Bull’s simulator to help fine-tune Verstappen’s race car.
    While he is also out to win the Formula E title himself this season after finishing third in the championship last year in his rookie season.
    Dennis, who will race in the Rome ePrix today, says he enjoys balancing his own racing commitments with working for Red Bull.
    Leclerc takes pole
    Sensational lap from the Ferrari man to start P1.
    Verstappen is second in his Red Bull, Perez in P3.
    And what about this! Lando Norris in fourth. A great recovery from him.
    Hamilton qualifies in fifth, Russell in sixth.
    Phew, all poised for an exciting battle tomorrow.

    Russell, from nowhere, pops up in P4
    Great lap from the Mercedes man while Hamilton is struggling.
    Q3 is go again
    Six minutes to go and it is Leclerc, Perez, Verstappen.
    Things just are not clicking for Alonso
    He has been at Alpine for a while now and spoke about ‘El Plan’ when he rejoined F1.
    It has been more pain than a plan. He trudges back to the garage as the session is delayed again.
    Almost seven minutes left on the clock.

    Red flag – Crash for Alonso
    The two-time world champion has lost control and slams into the barriers. He is out of the car and out of this qualifying.

    Q3 is go
    Shoot-out for the top 10 is underway in Oz. Verstappen v Leclerc, or can someone else spring a surprise?
    Blinded by the sun

    Bottas’s run comes to an end
    The first time since 2016 the Finn has not reached Q3.

    Out in Q2
    Gasly, Bottas, Tsunoda, Zhou and Schumacher are eliminated. Both McLarens are in to Q3. That’s a good upturn for the Woking team.
    Tsunoda runs into the gravel…
    And Lewis Hamilton is having difficulty staying on track.
    Meanwhile, Leclerc has asked for a new helmet with a dark visor, as the low sun is making it difficult to see. He says it is dangerous.
    Another fine for Vettel.
    Yesterday it was €5,000 for riding a scooter on the track after his car broke down.
    Today it is €600 for breaking the speed limit in the pit lane. He was clocked at 85.1km/h, a total of 5.1km/h over the regulation speed.
    Hamilton unhappy with Verstappen
    The Dutchman was unaware Hamilton was approaching on a flying lap and did not move out of the way.
    Hamilton radios his team to complain while Verstappen also radios his team to ask if Hamilton was on a flyer.
    It seems he was unaware he was, so bit of a mistake from Red Bull’s pitwall not to warn their driver to move out of the way.
    Bit of a mistake from Russell
    The Brit goes off track in his Mercedes, but produced a neat 180 degree spin to get back pointing the right way again.
    Q2 is go
    Who will be the big scalp here? Can McLaren reach the top 10?

    Q1 is done
    Albon has been told to stop his Williams and switch it off. He’s still on track.
    A double-disappointment for Williams.
    Stroll, Latifi, Vettel, Albon and Magnussen are all eliminated.
    Last push for Vettel to set a time
    The German has only just made it on track after crashing in final practice.

    Session will resume with 2.01 seconds remaining
    Vettel, Stroll, Latifi, Magnussen and Albon all in the drop zone.

    O Canada, O Canada!
    That’s a bad accident, thankfully Latifi and Stroll are both OK. Terrible awareness from Stroll who simply cut across in front of the Williams.
    Fair to say, neither of these drivers have done enough to warrant their places on the grid based on the last handful of races.

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    Max Verstappen’s bid to defend F1 title boosted by Brit Formula E driver Jake Dennis

    MAX VERSTAPPEN’s bid to defend his F1 crown is being boosted by British racer Jake Dennis.The 26-year-old from Nuneaton is Red Bull’s development driver and he also races in Formula E for the Andretti team.
    Jake Dennis spends hours in the Red Bull simulator fine-tuning Max Verstappen’s carCredit: Getty
    Dennis is a versatile driver and spends HOURS in Red Bull’s simulator to help fine-tune Verstappen’s race car.
    Meanwhile, he is also out to win the Formula E title himself this season, after finishing third in the championship last year during his rookie campaign.
    Dennis, who will race in the Rome ePrix on 9 and 10 April, says he enjoys balancing his own racing commitments with working for Red Bull.
    He said: “In 2020, I basically lived at the Red Bull factory in Milton Keynes. I was there all the time.
    .css-16e4f55{margin:16px 0;}.css-1h37p88{background-color:rgba(236,245,247,1);margin:16px 0;}.css-1tapza8{padding:20px 15px;}.css-1bk4jdt{padding:20px 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a:not(.nk-card-link){z-index:2;position:relative;}.css-1uyse24{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;border:none;}.css-1uyse24 .nk-headline-kicker{color:rgba(0,114,238,1);}.css-1uyse24:hover:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-kicker{color:rgba(0,86,180,1);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1uyse24:active:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-kicker{color:rgba(0,62,129,1);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1uyse24:visited:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-kicker{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24 .nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(34,37,38,1);}.css-1uyse24:hover:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(0,86,180,1);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1uyse24:active:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(0,62,129,1);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1uyse24:visited:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-xpuujo{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-tqcu81{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-bq4915{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,97,108,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}AUSTRALIAN GP .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Leclerc takes pole after dramatic qualifying which involved TWO red flags
    “I didn’t really have too much racing going on myself and they needed a driver who had a bit of F1 experience.
    “This year has been pretty hectic already. I think with a new car it just puts more demand on the workload.
    “So there’s been quite a lot of simulator work and that will continue on throughout the year.”
    Dennis’ simulator work runs alongside Red Bull’s on-track work, only back at their UK base.
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    While Verstappen and Sergio Perez are at the GP circuit and limited to three hour-long practice sessions, Dennis is driving in a virtual version and makes set-up changes trying to hone the car and making it quicker.
    He added: “When they’re running in FP1 of FP2, I’ll be there at the factory just running alongside their programme or trying any test items which they want testing.
    “They’ll send it on the simulator first to get all the calculations and the driver’s feedback, and then they’ll make their decision on whether they should make it onto the real life car or not.
    “The simulator is seriously impressive and allows the team to really get an advantage over some of the other teams.
    Max Verstappen became the 34th Formula One World Drivers’ Champion last DecemberCredit: AP
    “There are some days where I will be in the simulator from 9am until 6pm and other days where I am offering race support.”
    Although he was overlooked for drives in F1, Dennis has had plenty of success in his junior career and is now enjoying his time racing for Andretti in Formula E.
    He added: “Formula E is a completely different ballgame. Formula One is obviously massively advanced in terms of speed and just pure grit but what the drivers can actually do in the actual racecar is very limited.
    “Obviously, they’ll drive as fast as they can but in Formula E, the software is so far more advanced and it is more technically involved for a driver.
    Max Verstappen recovered from his DNF in Bahrain to win the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on 27 MarchCredit: EPA
    “There is never ending development in trying to improve the battery and the technology itself.
    “I had a great season last year as a rookie, so it only makes sense to try and beat that.
    “In Formula E, generally the best man on the day wins and that means you need to push even harder, make the car even faster and drive even better.
    “So hopefully we have made some progress from the last race in Mexico and have a good result in Rome this weekend.”
    The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s most extensive calendar to date continues in Rome this weekend for a double-header on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 April, with the Sunday race live on terrestrial television on Channel 4 from 13:30 BST.
    Catch-up on all the information as the series builds up to the 2022 London E-Prix, which returns this year on 30 and 31 July. More

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    Charles Leclerc takes pole and Max Verstappen in second for Australian Grand Prix with Lewis Hamilton fifth on grid

    FERRARI’S Charles Leclerc will start on pole for the Australian Grand Prix with Max Verstappen in second.It was a dramatic finish to qualifying as Fernando Alonso’s crash threatened to shake up the standings.
    Charles Leclerc was delighted with pole positionCredit: Getty
    Max Verstappen revealed he was not confident heading into any lapCredit: EPA
    Lewis Hamilton is happy with fifth place after a nightmare in practiceCredit: Sky Sports
    Leclerc, 24, had set the fastest time before the Spaniard’s crash but Verstappen then pipped him to set the fastest time of the day.
    The Frenchman had to respond and did exactly that with a blistering final lap, beating Verstappen by two-hundredths of a second.
    However his team-mate Carlos Sainz had a day to forget, finishing ninth after his first flying lap failed to record a time as the red flag was thrown due to Alonso’s crash, just before Sainz crossed the line.
    His compatriot Alonso will also be licking his wounds as he was 0.2secs up on Leclerc’s first lap time after two sectors of his flying lap before his incident.
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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}OZ NIGHTMARE .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Watch Stroll collide with Latifi as pair CRASH OUT of Australian GP qualifying
    Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez took third with F1’s British trio finishing next behind him.
    Landa Norris took fourth with Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and George Russell next on the grid in fifth and sixth respectively.
    Daniel Ricciardo is next in seventh with Esteban Ocon eighth and Fernando Alonso tenth.
    Leclerc’s pole is his second of the year in three races and he was delighted with the result after admitting he has struggled so far this weekend.
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    Leclerc told Sky Sports: “It felt very good, overall very happy because it is a track I have always struggled at in the past.
    “I have struggled this weekend I don’t know if you could see it from outside.
    But I was struggling with a lot of mistakes and being inconsistent and I really worked on that and tried to put a good lap together in Q3.
    “In Q3 I managed to put everything together and very happy to be starting on pole.”
    Verstappen has also struggled with his car this weekend, saying after finishing second: “I didn’t feel good in the car the whole weekend so far.
    “There wasn’t one lap where I felt confident. Second is good but it’s not great when you can’t go to the limit.”
    Meanwhile, Hamilton was delighted to be back towards the front of the grid after the Jeddah disaster and a difficult practice session.
    He said to Sky Sports: “We worked hard throughout the night, everyone back at the factory was working hard to try and figure out where we could go with the set-up.
    “I think we extracted the most from the car today. I feel like my lap there was a little bit more in the car.
    “That’s a positive, I’m naturally also gutted. I wasn’t able to extract that little bit.
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SunSport.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-h98a3b{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(236,245,247,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-xpuujo{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-tqcu81{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-bq4915{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,97,108,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}’NOTHING WORKS’ .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Lewis losing hope as Mercedes’ F1 struggles continue ahead of Australian GP
    “When you push that car just a little bit more she’s quite spiteful. She’s like a viper or a rattlesnake.
    “We just have to try and find a level of the bouncing as hardcore as we can go without rattling our brains out of our skulls.” More

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    Watch Lance Stroll collide with Nicholas Latifi as Canadian duo both CRASH OUT of Australian Grand Prix qualifying

    LANCE STROLL and Nicholas Latifi crashed out of qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix after an almighty mix-up.Williams’ Latifi, 26, went to overtake his Canadian compatriot seconds after letting Stroll pass during Q1.

    Nicholas Latifi’s ruined car was removed from qualifyingCredit: Reuters
    Lance Stroll took damage to his front wing as a result of the crashCredit: Getty
    But the Aston Martin star, 23, unexpectedly manoeuvred across to the right-hand side of the track as Latifi was moving up the inside, causing the pair to collide.
    Stroll’s front wing crashed into Latifi’s back wheel, leading the latter to spiral out of control with his tyre running down the track ahead of him.
    The red flag had to be introduced and neither driver was able to deliver a qualifying time.
    Latifi was fuming after the incident, telling Sky Sports: “For me it’s quite clear.
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    “I’ve just seen a video before coming here – I just went to go back wide to prepare my out lap, and he just turned into me once I was alongside him.
    “I let him through because he was pushing to open a lap, or so I was told.
    “Then I saw he aborted the lap, so I wanted to start my own preparation lap so I went back by him. Obviously there was a big gap and once I got past him, for whatever reason he decided to turn.”
    Stroll’s take on the incident was a complete contrast immediately after the fact as he questioned Latifi’s decision-making.
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    He said to his team via car radio: “F*** Latifi man what on earth is he doing?! He just hit me man.”
    The misunderstanding came as Latifi initially allowed Stroll to pass, believing he was beginning to start his qualifying lap.
    But after seeing the Aston Martin car slow Latifi decided he would go back in front and did so until Stroll caught his left wheel.
    The delay to the race did at least allow Stroll’s team-mate Sebastien Vettel to get out of the pits and record a time but he could only manage 18th place for Sunday’s grand prix. More

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    F1 Australian Grand Prix qualifying LIVE: Updates from Melbourne as Hamilton, Verstappen and Leclerc battle for pole

    THE Australian Grand Prix is back as F1 fans all over the world prepare to watch their favourite racers in action once again. Lewis Hamilton has endured a less than ideal start to the season but still managed to secure a podium in Abu Dhabi.
    But Charles Leclerc won that race, with Max Verstappen winning in Saudi Arabia, so the Brit will need to be at his absolute best this weekend to get back to winning ways.

    TV/Live stream: Sky Sports F1
    Qualifying start time: 7am BST – April 9
    Grand Prix start time: 6am BST – April 10

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    Follow ALL the action from Melbourne with our live blog below…
    Verstappen on Ferrari vs Red Bull
    “We’re a tiny bit off Ferrari but I do think that we can maybe make it a little bit closer,” he said on Friday.
    “But they are quick again. In the long run everything looked quite stable and quite nice so I’m happy about that.
    “We definitely made some good improvements today.”
    Hamilton & Mercedes’ woes continue
    Lewis spoke after FP2 on Friday and revealed that things were still yet to improve with the car ahead of this weekend’s race.
    He groaned: “Just nothing we change on the car makes a difference at the moment. So that’s the difficult thing.
    “You get in [to the track] very optimistic, make changes, and then it doesn’t seem to be wanting to improve.
    “So we made some changes going to P2 and it ended up being a bit harder for me. I don’t know. It is just a tricky car.
    “There is not a lot we can do. This is the way it is. I just have to drive with it.
    “That’s the frustrating thing, you’re trying to push and catch and even when you do a decent lap, it’s 1.2s down so it’s difficult.”
    Credit: Alamy
    How to watch the Australian GP

    All the coverage from the F1 Australian Grand Prix will be shown live on Sky Sports F1.
    You can live stream the action from the Sky Go or NOW TV apps, both of which are available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
    Practice Three is at 4am BST, with qualifying starting at 7am.
    The Grand Prix starts at 6am BST on Sunday, April 10.

    Welcome to the F1 Australian GP
    Hello and good evening, morning or afternoon wherever you are!
    We’re just a few hours away from qualifying at the F1 Australian GP here at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne.
    And SunSport are on hand to bring you all of the coverage as Lewis Hamilton looks to get back into some of those top spots.
    The Brit finished 10th in Saudi Arabia two weeks ago but bagged a podium finish just a week before that in Abu Dhabi.
    Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen have been the big winners of the season so far, but Hamilton won’t be giving up that easily.
    So kick back and relax, we’ve got you covered throughout the weekend.
    Load more entries… More